South Africa’s robust border security measures at OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, have resulted in the seizure of illicit cocaine worth more than R200 million.
According to national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, a multidisciplinary team comprising members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), SARS Customs and the Border Management Authority (BMA) intercepted five luggage bags containing 216 blocks of cocaine, weighing approximately 250 kilograms.
SAPS National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola commended the joint team for its vigilance and professionalism.
“General Masemola emphasised that SAPS and its partners remain fully committed to strengthening border security, dismantling organised crime networks and ensuring that syndicates face the full force of the law,” Brigadier Mathe said.
“These arrests highlight the continued efforts by law enforcement agencies to detect and prevent the transportation of illicit drugs across South Africa’s borders,” Mathe added.
She reiterated SAPS’s commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to strengthen border security, disrupt organised criminal networks and ensure that those involved in the illicit drug trade are brought to justice.
According to official data, 116 drug mules have been arrested at OR Tambo International Airport over the past 24 months alone.
“This latest high-profile seizure forms part of an ongoing crackdown on narcotics smuggling through South Africa’s busiest airport. Law enforcement agencies have significantly intensified border security and intelligence-sharing efforts over the past two years,” she emphasised.
